I became an artist after I was shot and kidnapped by a boyfriend in January of 1992. On that day, I honestly believed that I was going to die. After six hours of having my life threatened, I was finally able to get my abductor to pray with me. Shortly after our prayer, he agreed to take us to a hospital so that we could both get help.
While recovering from my injuries, I began to have the urge to paint. I decided to follow this new desire and was amazed at the art that was coming from me. Having no prior artistic talent, I could not explain this new gift, but have used it ever since as a witnessing tool and a way of giving glory to God, who is so responsible for sparing my life.
My art has been a wonderful surprise in my life. Sharing it has offered hope to victims and perpetrators in ways that my words could not. It has also been instrumental in raising awareness and funding for programs that help victims of violence.
Here are three paintings of some beautiful property that will forever belong in the hearts of some beautiful people in my life
These were gifts to the love of my life, his wonderful sister and their father. Although the family farm was sold this year by the majority vote of the surviving heirs, I pray that these portraits of the land they loved so much will remind them of this treasure and how, no matter what happens, love cannot be transferred with a deed.
This is The Town Pump. the center of my home town. This sketch has been used on post cards, greeting cards, and is present in several businesses in East Sparta, Ohio.
I lived down the street from the puimp when my kids were little, and sketched this then. It has been there for over 200 years and remains a nostalgic reminder of home.
Adorable Pooch!
This Dog belonged to really nice people I used to know. I painted this portrait for them for Christmas 2004.
He is a really sweet Boston Terrier Named Togepie. And yes....he is as Ornery as He looks in the Painting!
Golden Years!!
This is Lucy, my Sister's first Golden Retriever. She got Myasthenia Gravis when she was 10. She had to be put to sleep in 2003 when it became inhumane for her to suffer with it any longer.
She was a great companion Dog-Cousin to my children. She is still missed very much.
This Ford Ranger was a gift to my ex-husband when we were dating.
We are no longer together, and the truck has long been sold but I did have the opportunity during our courtship to create this really cool painting.
This is a bridge in Summit county. It is actually a copy of another painting that one of my friends wanted but could not afford. I painted her this copy - which was a close to the real thing as she could get.
She loved this one even more!!
I was commissioned to do these paintings as a Christmas gift for the owner of Brewster Dairy in Brewster, Ohio - who also owns Stockton Cheese Plant in Stockton, Illinois by the president of the company back in 2004. These companies make all of the Swiis Cheese for Kraft and other national brands. I got to go to both locations to scout the studies for both of these paintings - which were both really nice trips. These currently hang in the office of the owner.
Portrait Paintings
The Town Pump
Pencil Sketch 1999
Togepie
Acrylic on Board 2004
Lucy
Acrylic, Colored Pencil on brown paper, 2003
Pug Baby
Acrylic, Colored Pencil on board, 2004
Here's a cute little Pug that I absolutely HAD to paint!
What a sweet face!
His mommy & Daddy were thrilled, and his image has been reproduced on Mugs and cards for lots of other Pug Lovers!
Ford Ranger
Acrylic on board, 2003
'The Queer Place'
Acrylic on Board, 2008
Mustang emblem for a mustang enthusiast. Yes - my ex-husband's brother is a collector of mustangs..so one year for Christmas, he got this painting. It was a strange request for a painting - but I go a little nuts at Christmas trying to paint what people really want!!
Special Places
This is a mural on a 18' tall x 25' wide barn in East Sparta. It is of the Grand Canal of Venice. The man who commissioned it is from Italy, and he wanted a bit of home in his back yard.
Mustang Emblem
Acrylic on Board, 2003
'The Queer Place'
Acrylic on Watercolor Paper,2008
Carrol County Meadow
Acrylic on Board, 2008
This is not a real place, but one I painted from the memory of a dream. This is one of the first paintings I did, and was amazed at what I could do!!
I still have it - I think of it as my gift from God to show me that I really could paint!
Stockton, Ill. Cheese Plant
Acrylic on Board,2008
Brewster, Ohio Cheese Plant
Acrylic on Board,2008
My Favortie Stuff
Grand Canal of Venice
Rustoleum on Aluminum Siding
271 Bridge
Acrylic on Board, 2006
For Reflection
Acrylic on Board, 1994
Three women sharing a happy moment in a carefree dance. This painting celebrates life! It was donated to the Battered Women's Shelter of Summit County for their silent auction in Spring 2005, to raise money for the women and children in the shelter.
This was done with scraps of watercolor paper painted with metallic paint. I placed them to form a woman in a triumphant pose. This piece was done specifically for the Rape Crisis of Summit and Medina County's fundraiser in fall of 2005.
Dance
Acrylic on Board, 2005
Pieces of Me
Shredded-Painted Watercolor Paper on Board, 2005
This painting was submitted to the Migraine Masterpiece Competition in 1999 and was part of their on-line gallery that year.
Pain
Acrylic on Board, 1999
Celebration - A life
Acrylic on Board, 1999
My cousin is Hearing Impaired. I painted this for the Deaf-Ed Gallery in his honor. It shows swatches of things that are important in his life, and my hand signing "I love you".
Fine Arts
Acrylic on Board, 2002
Happy little Jazz Session I painted shortly after I started listening to Jazz. It is one of my favorites. It was sold to a Jazz Musician who saw it on-line and really liked it, too!!
Pussy Wilows in Vase
Acrylic on Board, 2005
Pretty little Pussywillows and metallic flecks in a transparent vase. A Contemporary Slant on a Still-life.
Embrace Your World
Acrylic on Canvas Paper, 2004
This was a gift to one of my friends who left her job as a social worker to follow her dream! She moved to South Carolina to work in Women's Prison.
Life, Don't Fret!
ACrylic on Board, 1998
This was a gift to my soul brother, Kevin Hall, who is a career musician who rocks!! He was going through some stuff and I made him this guitar man to let him know "it's just life, don't fret!"
Layers of Hope
Acrylic on Board, 2003
This painting was presented to the women of the Battered Women's shelter where I worked. The director got the original and I made prints for all of my co-workers. It represents the women and children that we helped as a result of our work.
Threads of Hope
Acrylic on Board, 2004
I made this painting for one of my friends who was leaving an important program that was started by the shelter. She was the girl on the right. She with the girl on the left had started the Step III program. They were, in my mind, the seamstresses of hope.
Free
Acrylic on Board, 1999
I made this painting for Roni, one of the facilitators of the victim-offender dialogue I had with my offender in 1999. She was so helpful in preparing us both for a very necessary step in my healing from my shooting. Roni is a woman of boundless energy, optomism, and resources in helping all victims of crime become and live "free".
Words of Healing
Acrylic on Canvas, 2002
This painting shows the transition from anger in being a victim to finally finding a peacefull acceptance and even thankfulness for survival and becoming victorious over a traumatic experience. It was purchased from my collection by a Victims Assistance Advocate who fell in love with it after seeing it on-line!
"Brotherhood" was painted for a silent auction for the Battered Women's Shelter in Medina. It was won by a Juvenile Court Magistrate and has it in her Chambers.
Brotherhood
Acrylic on Canvas, 2005
Threads of Friendship
Acrylic on Canvas, 2004
This painting was commissioned by one of my co-workers. She got it for her best friend who was graduating from college. They had grown up together, gone to school and college together. The painting represents school years, clubs, volunteering, and church groups that they had experienced together.
Jazz Trio
Acrylic on board, 2002
Another jazz picture. This was bought on-line from the website in 2005 by a cello player who said he looked like the cello player in the painting. :-)
Masks
Acrylic on board, 2003
Donated for another fund-raiser in Medina, a different judge won this painting and also has it in her chambers. I don't know what it is about my paintings and the judges, but they really like them!
Santa
Acrylic on board, 2004
Created for Christmas cards in 2004. One of my friends wanted something completely different for Christmas. Everyone who knows me knows that Santa is my absolute favorite...........so Santa was an easy choice for her very different personally created Christmas cards!
More Masks
Acrylic on board, 2003
A variation on the Mask painting above. Someone who saw it at the fundraiser wanted one. So I was happy to do another one!
Made for a Rape Crisis event in 2006, Triumphant Dance is an obvious dance of freedom and celebration. Made with shredded acrylic canvas board, painted and put together like a puzzle....very cool results!!
Triumphant Dance
Painted Board Pieces cardboard, 2006
Peaceful Cottage
Acrylic on board, 2006
One of my favorites! I made this for the silent auction in Akron for BWS. It was won by one of the volunteers who worked for the shelter. She has it in her lving room to remind her of the peace we all strive for in our lives and in our homes.
Life is Beautiful
Acrylic on board, 2006
In April of 2006, I was invited to be the keynote speaker at the Ohio Victims Assistance Annual State Banquet. I was also asked to paint a tranquil painting that would be used as the cover of the collected poems submitted by victims of crime for that year.
It was such an honor, because I was able to pay tribute to the people who had helped me so much.
Please let me know you visited
by signing the guest book below.
Body, Heart, & Soul
Acrylic on board, 2009
Made for the Battered Women's Shelter 's Silent Auction Fund Raiser 2009. Images of strong women and overcoming are always popular items at the auction.
When my Dreams Take Flight
Acrylic on Bristol, 2009
Made for the Battered Women's Shelter 's Silent Auction Fund Raiser 2009. This painting shows planets, birds, clouds, and other dreamy ideas a turquois sky with cherub like girl with hopes and dreams in her head. This painting shows how beautiful it can be when dreams do take flight.
Morning Walk
Acrylic on Board 2009
This Painting was done for Paul Williams, a close family friend for his 90th birthday. Paul has lived in my home town his whole life and walks every morning with his big white husky dog, Bear. I do not know what life in East Sparta would be without seeing Paul on his morning walk.
Happy Birthday Paul!!!
Custom Work
Often, I am asked to do custom work such as murals, business signs or logos. The following pictures are from a work I did at a tanning salon. The owner wanted something different for each of the rooms that would make her salon special and artsy for her customers. We decided on themed rooms that reflected travel and going places. Have a look and enjoy!!
Beach Room
scenes of the shore!
These measure about 5'x4'.
Ohio Sports Room
Logos & Mascots
All about 3' x 3'
Southwestern Desert Room
These designs take up entire walls!
Paris Room - So Chic!
These also take up entire walls
Hallway - Right
The owner's hubby has a 2008 Harley Soft Tail Deluxe
so I painted it on the wall and made the wall biker-bizarre with abstract designs and skullies on the walls.
Hallway - Left
The owners wanted the full hallway to be done in Graffitti art. I made it A Life-affirming wall with graffitti reflecting life, love, living, and peace.
